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Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur: Birthday of the World

Motivational Tools:

Children are curious by nature.  All lessons should have a motivation to learn what is introduced via various curiosities.  This lesson should have available on a small display table the following items: a birthday gift bag standing upright with tissue paper peaking out of the bag; a birthday card in its envelope; and a birthday banner draped across the board.

Lesson Plan:

1. Teacher asks students ” what are these objects are celebrating?”

2. Take the card out of bag, and read the birthday card substituting words that reinforce the concept that the Jewish people are celebrating the birthday of the world on Rosh Hashanah. It may be necessary to use your own words when reading the card, or ask the students what do you think a card for the birthday of the world would say to us?  This will allow them to share what they already know about Rosh Hashanah. ( This is a pre-assessment tool to help you gather information as to what the students may know.)

3. Have the students imagine how many candles would  be on the world’s cake. When referring to the world’s age, the proper year of the Jewish calendar should be used, so the students become familiar with the new year’s numeral. For example, the children could be accustomed to 2008, but in Jewish terms the year is referred to as 5768.  This number could be displayed on the birthday banner that is on display in the classroom.

4. Ask students what they like to do to celebrate birthdays?  Are there common elements among the students?  Birthday parties, cakes, presents, etc.
Celebrating the holiday Rosh Hashanah is the way Jewish people celebrate the birthday of the world.  We don’t have parties or cakes, but we do other special things that make us and the world feel special on Rosh Hashanah. 

Reinforcement Activities:

1. Happy Birthday Cards celebrating the age of the world. (10 minute activity for young children)

This activity requires simply paper and crayons.  I would suggest this activity if your lesson time requires a short follow-up activity.  The cards could be displayed in the room, to begin the decoration for the holiday.

2. Happy Birthday Cupcakes celebrating the age of the world. (A photo opportunity activity for sure!)

This activity would involve preplanning and an outlay of money. It is also an activity that could require parent volunteers. To reduce expenses cupcakes could be baked at home, and the frosting could be home made and not store bought.  This lesson is enormously fun because it is simply sweet! Children love to eat sweets and celebrate birthdays.  To have the children personalize their cupcakes, have available frostings in small bowls, and easily available to their reach.  Each student uses a plastic knife to spread their frosting, (help may be required at this stage) and use piping gel tubes to print the year’s date on each cupcake.  The children could eat their cupcake afterwards or take it home.  Remember if the children take home items, always put them in small plastic sandwich bags!

3. Happy Birthday Banner celebrating the age of the world.

This activity requires banner paper that is often a staple in many classrooms.  Simple cut a large piece of paper, and pre-print HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE WORLD  in block letters, and allow the children at various free moments to color the letters. It is also important to have the year’s date on the banner (i.e. 5768).  This banner could be hung in the school’s hall, or classroom.  Depending on their abilities, each child could sign their name to the banner as well.

4. Read aloud the storybook:  Happy Birthday World (Need publishing information still)